Dimapur, August 23 (MExN): They are called the protectors of the public and guardians of the law and the society, but when it comes to the question of Human Rights, Nagaland police fares poorly as far as the latest poll conducted by The Morung Express goes. An overwhelming 59 percent of internet and phone voters sent their opinion as “No” during the week long poll conducted on the question “Are the Nagaland police sensitive to human rights of the public?” 24 percent opined “Yes” while 13 percent were in “Others”.
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, IRB personnel who regularly feature in the local media for all the wrong reasons, were on the receiving end of those who posted their answers, that included even those who voted “Yes” and “Others.” They minced no words.
“So often, you will find IRBs and Nagaland police slapping or physically assaulting members of the public, or even punishing them of the road side,” posted one person. “The police, particularly the young educated ones and those in the IRB are pretty cocky and arrogant,” another opined. “Just by wearing a uniform and holding an AK47, the Police, especially IRB jawans think so bossy of themselves,” still another, said.
Even one who asserted that the Nagaland police are sensitive to Human Rights had this to say: “Unlike the IRB, the ordinary policeman of the Nagaland Armed Police is a down to earth guy and respects the public sentiments.” One called for “zero-tolerance” against those IRB jawans who mistreat the public.
However underneath the question of Human Rights and the distaste for the attitude of the IRB personnel towards the public, one interesting response was that the commentators blamed the insensitivity as due to lack of education, the “system” and also “training” of the police personnel.
“With the introduction of IRB, the new training format lacks discipline and all you have is a rowdy bunch of educated policemen who if given the chance would rather be doing something else,” opined one person who otherwise said that “the old Nagaland police were much more decent and they took pride in their service as protectors of law” and “were public friendly as well”. “…I will say Yes, for the old Nagaland police (pre-2000) and No, for the new Nagaland police (post 2000)”.
Even the public are not aware of what Human Rights are, said one, and the police often gets away with violations, which in another context would create an uproar. “They (police personnel) need to be educated first,” said one while another said that the word Human Rights is a “jargon” for them.
A voter said that the “system itself is faulty” and that “the system itself does not respect the Human Rights of the public” and it is the reason why “the police jawans are never exposed or taught well on human rights or ordered to respect the public.” On the constructive side, one voter opined that the personnel, particularly those assigned to VVIPs and VIPs for security duty, need to undergo some kind of sensitization and training programme from time to time.
Details on page 7
